Buffalo Bills News - December 21, 2003

Bills RB Henry dishes out punishment [4:58 AM]Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel reports:
'"You literally have to knock him unconscious to stop him," the Tennessee Titans' Jeff Fisher said a week ago in the sort of pregame hyperbole that seems to infect almost every NFL coach.'

Dolphins Playoff Possibilities [4:57 AM]Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel reports:
'Here are the scenarios that would help and hurt the Dolphins entering their final two regular-season games against Buffalo and the visiting New York Jets (6-8).'

Bowens makes speedy recovery [4:56 AM]Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel reports:
'"When [Bowens] injured his knee, he had an isolated ACL tear," O'Neill said. "Another player that has a more complicated injury, there might have been other complications, and those things can prolong the recovery."'

Dolphins not on ice quite yet [4:53 AM]Palm Beach Post reports:
'Because if there's a definition of what these 8-6 Dolphins are this deep into the season, it's that they lose to the very best teams (New England twice, Indianapolis, Tennessee and Philadelphia) and beat everybody else (except Houston). Buffalo is 6-8 and happens to be an everybody else.'

Dolphins ready for both cold and Bills [4:51 AM]Florida Today reports:
'There won't be a lot of scoreboard watching going on this afternoon at Ralph Wilson Stadium for the Miami Dolphins. That's only because the Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts play tonight.'

'Fins' season on line vs. Bills [4:50 AM]Naples Daily News reports:
'"We're not worried about our own jobs," he said. "We're not worried about Dave's job at this point. We're not worried about anything, but winning and getting a chance to play in January. Everything will sort itself out one way or the other. No one in his locker room can control whether or not we get cut or whether or not Dave gets fired or any of the other crap that is going on."'

December 20, 2003

Dial-up celebrations are costly [8:58 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'"We would hope that our players have a little more class and a little more concern about their team than doing something like that," team President and General Manager Tom Donahoe said this week. "We would look at that as a very selfish act, and not even having spoken to (Bills coach) Gregg (Williams) about it I'm sure, as well as I know him, he would say the same thing."'

Williams questionable [8:57 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'The Bills have not indicated the nature of the injury, but Williams has been walking gingerly since the end of last week's game at Tennessee. Coach Gregg Williams said the second-year player would be a game-time decision.'

Vandemonium [8:56 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'"There are a handful of broadcasters who are so distinctive (that) when you hear their voice you immediately think of their teams," said Steve Sabol, the president of NFL Films. "He is associated with the Bills the way Ray Scott was with the Packers and Chuck Thompson was with the Colts. I could be blindfolded and hear that voice and in my mind I'm in Buffalo and it is Jim Kelly or Bruce Smith. Like all the great radio broadcasters, his delivery and the timbre of his voice approximates the rhythms and the shifts of the game. He has a certain energy to his voice that added to the pictures."'

Williams' status no concern for Bills [5:15 AM]Rochester D&C reports:
'“Gregg (Williams) has to take care of his family, I have to take care of mine,” said Buffalo defensive tackle Sam Adams. “I don’t play for him and he doesn’t coach for me.”'

Hearty Bills fans score big [5:14 AM]Rochester D&C reports:
'Congratulations to Buffalo Bills right guard Ruben Brown on his selection to an eighth straight Pro Bowl, but I’m starting to wonder if he might become the first player elected to a Pro Bowl the year after he retires.'

Slap Shots [5:12 AM]Toronto Sun reports:
'Lindy Ruff and Gregg Williams live just a few houses apart in the same Buffalo neighbourhood. And they may soon also be walking together to the unemployment line, if their respective Sabres and Bills don't soon straighten out.'

Disturbing trend in rematches [5:11 AM]Miami Herald reports:
'''There is no guessing game,'' Dolphins linebacker Junior Seau said. ``It's not going to be a chess game. It's not about out-smarting someone. We know exactly what they have. They know exactly what we have. There really isn't a science to what goes on.'''

GM Wolf ? No contact [5:10 AM]Miami Herald reports:
'Dolphins sources have indicated that Wolf, who retired after the 2000 season, might be an intriguing possibility for a Miami team that could opt for a strong general manager system should coach Dave Wannstedt be fired by owner Wayne Huizenga.'

Ricky Williams shrugs off fans who've lost faith [5:09 AM]Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel reports:
'"They paid money, and they come to the games and they watch our games on TV and that, therefore, pays our paychecks. But I think that's the extent of our relationship as far as I'm concerned. It's great when you do meet true fans, but I don't hold them responsible to be true fans. Fans are fans."'

Light fantastic [5:08 AM]Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel reports:
'"It's all leverage," Winfield says. He gets his pads under their pads, uses his legs with impeccable technique and drives into his tackle just the way it's drawn up in the textbooks.'

Defensive scores often key wins [5:07 AM]Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel reports:
'That's because, according to a review of game summaries, NFL teams have won 80 percent of the games (50-13) in which they have scored a defensive touchdown this season. AFC teams have won 87 percent of the games (26-4) in which they've done it.'

Defense ready to tackle its shortcoming [5:06 AM]Palm Beach Post reports:
'"As long as the season is, it's hard to practice full-speed tackling this time of year," Dolphins defensive coordinator Jim Bates said. "The only thing is putting guys in the right position."'

Short trip [5:05 AM]Palm Beach Post reports:
'Dave Wannstedt, 11-5 in his first two seasons as Miami Dolphins coach, has crossed the line. Suddenly his management style is too much philosophy and not enough fire. His leadership is insufficient to get a veteran team moving. His draft selections are suspect and his faith in certain key players unfounded.'

Dolphins brace for cold [5:04 AM]Florida Today reports:
'The weather forecast has been changing all week, from a low of 19 degrees with snow to a high of 36 and cloudy. Either way, it's not going to be all palm trees and suntan lotion at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Just call them Frosty the Snowmammals.'

December 19, 2003

"Community QB" Award Winner To Be Announced [6:36 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
'Orchard Park, NY - Prior to Sunday’s Bills-Dolphins game at Ralph Wilson Stadium, the recipient of the PARADE/Buffalo Bills Community Quarterback Award Winner will be announced in a special on-field ceremony at 12:10 PM.'

Rivals Meet Again: Bills Final Home Game [4:18 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
'"The rivalry the players have with the other players from the Dolphins is more of that we know them," said Ruben Brown. "As for the fans, a lot of them live down in Florida or transported to Florida from here and continue to root for the Bills and that's what makes it such a big rivalry."'

Feeding on Dolphin [11:30 AM]The Sports Network reports:
'When given the chance, the Bills love to keep the ball on the ground with Travis Henry. Due to the relative shootout with Tennessee. Henry was limited to 19 carries for 88 yards (4.6 ypc). On the season, Henry, who continues to play with a cracked bone in his right leg, has 10 rushing touchdowns.'

Spikes joins Brown in Pro Bowl [8:55 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'"I think out of the past three or four years I've been playing good ball. I think a lot of it is politics. A lot of it is who's winning and who's not. Who's hot and who's not. I was fortunate enough to be on a Bills team, a great organization that it is, and I had a great group of guys here who cared about trying to get me across the water."'